Exhaust fans



J1me 1958 e. MCLARTY 2,837,021

EH-IAUST FANS 7 Filed Sept. 15, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

60/"0 0/7 4/ 1 ar/ BY A TTORNEY United States Patent I EXHAUST FANS Gordon McLarty, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application September 15, 1955, Serial No. 534,572

13 Claims. (Cl. 98-116) This invention relates to improvements in exhaust fans. The principle objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an inexpensive but eflicient exhaust fan that is attractively concealed both while in operation and when not in operation.

Second, to provide an exhaust fan assembly in which the movement of the fan to inoperative position automatically closes or seals the exhaust air opening against the entrance of outside air into the room.

Third, to provide a mounting for an exhaust fan which both conceals the fan from observation and acts as an adjustable closure for fully or partially cutting oit the exhaust air opening to the fan.

Fourth, to provide a mounting for an exhaust fan which both conceals the motor of the fan and prevents the passage of exhaust air over the fan whereby the motor does not accumulate grease and dust.

Fifth, to provide an exhaust fan mounting which directs air to a propeller type fan in a radially inwardly directed manner from completely around the fan rather than axially toward the back of the fan.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there is one sheet, illustrate a highly practical form of the exhaust fan and mounting.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the fan and its cover as mounted on the inside of a wall of a room.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional View taken along the plane of the line 22 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings 1 indicates the wall of a room having a port or passage 2 formed therethrough through which air is to be exhausted from the room. The outer end of the passage is not illustrated as it may assume a variety of forms such as a vertically extending flue or a horizontally opening port with some sort of rain shedding hood across its outer end.

The exhaust fan mount which is positioned on the inner side of the wall consists of a circular mounting plate 3 adapted to be secured to the Wall around the passage as by screws 4. The plate 3 is provided with a central flanged opening with the flange 5 projecting into the passage 2. Secured to the bottom of the flange 5 is a main bearing 6 having a bore disposed axially of the flange 5 and within which a support rod 7 is axially slidable. The support rod 7 may be biased inwardly into the room or axially outwardly from the plate 3 by means of spring 8 attached to the inner end of the rod and extending to eyes 9 formed on the inner edge of the flange 5.

Attached to the outer end of the rod 7 where the rod projects into the room is a motor support plate 10, the lower end of which is passed over the rod and against a collar 11 where it is clamped by a thumb nut 12. The plate extends upwardly from the support rod and has an electric motor 13 secured thereto centrally of the passage 2. The motor has a shaft 14 projecting axially inwardly along the axis of the flange 5 and a propeller type fan 15 is secured to the shaft inwardly from the motor 13. The fan 15 is of such diameter that it will pass inwardly through the flange 5 to the position indicated by dotted lines at 15A when the support rod 7 is pressed inwardly of the passage 2.

'Secured to the outer side of the motor support plate 10 as by means of the same rivits 16 which secure the motor to the support plate is a cover 17. Desirably the cover is of circular shape and may be embossed or ornamented as desired. The cover 17 has an outwardly dished periphery 18 which is adapted to close in sealing relation against the wall and the mounting plate 3 as indicated at 18A when the support rod is pushed inwardly of the passage 2.

The motor support plate 10 and cover 17 are prevented from rotating about the rod 7 by a guide rod 19 secured to the cover in angularly spaced relation to the support rod and slidably journaled in an ear 20 turned up from the edge of the flange 5. It Will be appreciated that other expedients such as a non-circular support rod may be utilized to keep the motor centered with respect to the mounting plate. An electrical cable 21 for energizing the motor 15 is tied to the support rod 7 and adapted to be connected to any suitable wiring connection within the wall 2. It will be appreciated that Where desirable the electric cable 2 may be carried outwardly through the cover 17 where it is not desired to conceal the wiring to the fan.

When installed and moved to open position as illustrated the ring 18 of the cover opens an annular space completely around the fan 15 and when the fan is operating, air is drawn radially inwardly completely around the fan in the direction indicated by the arrow 22. It will be noted that this flow of air largely avoids any contact with the motor 13 so that the motor does not become coated with grease and dust from the air being exhausted. This permits the motor to operate cooler and eliminates the undesirable and unsanitary accumulation of dirt and grease that is common on most exhaust fans. As was explained previously the support rod 7 and support plate 10 can be positioned inwardly of the wall until the cover 17 closes the passage 2 and it is thus unnecessary to provide separate shutters or closures within the passage or at its outer end. The radially directed flow of air to the fan 15 does not materially reduce the efliciency of the fan and further causes the air being exhausted to move in a direction parallel to the surface of the wall 1 in approaching the fan so there is less tendency for grease and dirt to collect on the wall around the exhaust opening.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a wall and defining a flanged opening adapted to register with an opening in a wall, a main bearing secured to the flange of said plate, a support rod slidable in said bearing to slide through said opening in said plate, spring means urging said rod outwardly of said opening against'the friction of said rod in said bearing, a motor support plate secured to the outer end of said rod, a motor secured to the inner side of said support plate and having a shaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to blow air into the opening in said mounting plate, said rod being long enough to support said support plate and motor with said propeller located in a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesser diameter than the opening in said mounting plate, a circular cover secured to the outer side of said support plate, said cover having an inwardly dished periphery adapted close against a wall around said mounting plate when said support plate and rod are pushed inwardly o l the bearing, a hand grip secured to said rod on the outer side of said cover, a guide rod secured to said cover in angularly spaced relation to said support rod, a guide bearing on said mounting plate slidably supporting said guide; rod to coact with said main bearing in holding said fancentered with respect to the opening in the mountingplate, and means for connecting said motor to a source'of power. a

2. A exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a .wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured .to a wall and defining an opening adapted to register with an op'eningiin a wall, a main bearing secured. to said plate, a support rod slidable in said hearing to slide through said opening in said plate, a motor support plate secured to the outer end of said rod, a motor secured to the inner side ofsaid support plate and having a shaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to blow air into the opening in said mounting plate, said rod being long enough to. support said support plate and motor with said propeller located in a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesser diameter than the opening in said mounting plate, a cover secured to said support plate, said cover having periphery adapted close against said mounting plate when said supportplate and rod are pushed inwardly of the bearing, a hand grip secured to the outer side of said cover, a gmide rod secured to said cover in angularly spaced relation to said support rod, a guide bearing on said mounting plate slidably supporting said guide rod to coact with said main bearing in holding said fan centered with respect to opening in the mounting plate, and means for connecting said motor to a source of power. r

3. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured toa Wall and defining a flanged opening adapted to register with an opening in a wall, a main bearing secured to the flange of said plate, a support rod slidable in said bearing to slide through said opening in said plate, a motor support plate secured to the outer end of said rod, a motor secured to the inner side of said support plate and having a shaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to .blow air into the opening in said mounting plate, said rod being long enough to support said support plate andmotor with said propeller located in a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesserdiameter than the opening in said mounting plate, a circular cover secured to the outer side of said support plate, said cover having an inwardly dished periphery adapted close against a wall around said mounting plate when said support plate and rod are pushed inwardly of the bearing, a hand grip secured to the outer side of said cover, means connected, to said cover to coact with said main bearing in holding said fan centered with respect to the opening in the mounting plate, and means for connecting said motor to a source of power.

4. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a wall and defining a flanged opening adapted to register with an opening in a wall, a main bearing secured to the flange of said plate, a support rod slidable in said bearing to slide through said opening in said plate, a cover plate secured to the outer end of said rod, a motor secured to theinner side of said cover plate and having a shaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to blow air into the opening in said mounting plate, said rod being long enough to support said cover plate and motor with said propeller located in a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesser diameter than the opening in said mounting plate, said cover having an inwardly dished periphery adapted close 4 against a wall around said mounting plate when said cover plate and rod are pushed inwardly of the bearing, a hand grip secured to the outer side of said cover, means connected to said cover to coact with said main bearing in holding said fan centered with respect to the opening in the mounting plate, and means for connecting said motor to a source of power.

5. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening adapted to register with an opening in a wall, bearing means secured to said plate, rod means slidable in said bearing means to slide through said opening in said plate, a motor support plate secured to the outer end of said rod means, a motor secured to the inner side of said support plate and having ashaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to blow air into the opening in said plate, said rod means being long enough to support said support plate and motor with said propeller located in a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesser diameter than the opening in said mounting plate, a cover secured to said support plate, said cover having a periphery adapted close against said mounting plate when said support plate and rod means are pushed inwardly of the bearing means, a hand grip secured to the outer side of said cover, said rod means coacting with said bearing means in holding said fan centered with respect to opening in the mounting plate and in selected adjusted positions of said cover with respect to said mounting plate, and means for connecting said motor to a source of power.

6. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted in an opening in a wall comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening adapted to register with an opening in a wall, bearing means secured to said plate, rod means slidable in said bearing means to slide through said opening in said plate, a cover plate secured to the outer end of said rod means, a motor secured to the inner side of sai'dcover plate and having a shaft projecting inwardly thereof, a propeller type fan secured to said shaft and adapted to blow air into the opening in said plate, said rod means being long enough to support said cover plate and motor with said propeller locatedin a plane outwardly from said mounting plate, said propeller being of lesser diameter than the opening in said mounting'plate, said cover having a periphery adapted close against said mounting plate when said cover plate and rod means are pushed inwardly of the bearing means, a hand grip secured to the outer side of said cover, said rod means coacting with said bearing means in holding said fan centered with respect to opening in the mounting plate and. in selected adjusted positions of said cover with respect to said mounting plate, and means for connecting said motor to a source of power.

7. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening to register with a passage through the wall, a dished cover of a size to fit 'over said opening, means including a support rod slidably mounted on said member and connected at its outer end to said cover for supporting said cover with its dished face inward toward the wall for movement toward and away from said member to selectively adjusted positions of rest, a motor mounted on the inner side of said cover and having a shaft projecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the opening, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, said means permitting movement of said fan outwardly of said opening and'permitting movement of said cover inwardly into closing engagement with the wall around said opening.

8. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a walland defining an opening to register with a passage through the wall, a cover of a size to fit over said opening, means connected to said cover for supporting said cover for movement toward and away from said member to selectively adjusted positions of rest, a motor mounted on the inner side of said cover and having a shaft projecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the opening, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, said means permitting movement of said fan outwardly of said opening and permitting movement of said cover inwardly into closing engagement with the wall around said opening.

9. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening to register with a passage through the wall, a dished cover of a size to fit over said opening, means including a support rod slidably mounted on said member and connected at its outer end to said cover for supporting said cover with its dish face inward toward the wall for movement toward and away from said member to selectively adjusted positions of rest, a motor mounted on said cover and having a shaft projecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the opening, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, said means permitting movement of said fan outwardly of said opening and permitting movement of said cover inwardly into closing engagement with the wall around said opening.

10. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening to register with a passage through the wall, a cover of a size to fit over said opening, means including a support rod slidably mounted on said member and connected at its outer end to said cover for supporting said cover for movement toward and away from said member to selectively adjusted positions of rest, a motor mounted on said cover and having a shaft projecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the opening, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, said means permitting movement of said fan outwardly of said opening and permitting movement of said cover inwardly into closing engagement with the wall around said opening.

11. An exhaust fan adapted to be mounted on a wall to register with a passage through the wall comprising a motor and a screw propeller type fan driven thereby,

means connected to said motor for supporting said motor for movement toward and away from a wall in alignment with a passage through the wall to selectively adjusted positions of rest, a cover secured to said motor to close over the passage in the wall, said fan being of lesser diameter than said cover and mounted to propel air inwardly through said passage, said means permitting movement of said fan outwardly of said opening and permitting movement of said cover inwardly into closing engagement with the wall around said passage.

12. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening to register with a passage through the wall, a circular cover of a size to fit over said opening, means connected to said cover for supporting said cover in spaced relation in front of said member, a motor mounted on the inner side of said cover and having a shaftprojecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the openings, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, the tips of said propeller being spaced radially and axially inwardly from the periphery of said cover.

13. An exhaust fan comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening to register with a passage through the Wall, a cover of a size to fit over said opening, means connected to said cover for supporting said cover in spaced relation in front of said member, a motor mounted on said cover and having a shaft projecting inwardly from the cover centrally of the opening, and a screw propeller type fan mounted on said shaft to propel air inwardly through said opening, the tips of said propeller being spaced radially and axially inwardly from the periphery of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,467,901 Lange Sept. 11, 1923 2,100,152 Youker Nov. 28, 1937 2,177,129 Skinner Oct. 24, 1939 2,682,826 Wahlborg July 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 84,361 Norway Oct. 4, 1954 

